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Chinese import rules bad for SA citrus growers

South Australian Liberal Senator, Anne Ruston, has called for an overhaul of the way Australian officials negotiate export protocols in foreign markets.

South Australian citrus exporters are currently required to pay for cold treatments of citrus that's already fruit fly free.

Senator Ruston says if farmers were at the table when these deals were being negotiated, oversights like this wouldn't occur.

"We shouldn't be talking about doing individual exemptions.

"What we should be doing is negotiating free trade agreements, that have broad application and the people that are negotiating these agreements need to actually understand what the implications are for growers."

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries says 'recognition of pest free areas is ultimately a matter determined by importing countries'.

In addition, DAFF says the 'department continues to work to maintain and improve access to international markets, including China for horticultural exports'.